Adjustable wrench having plier-like handles



Feb. 21, 1950 H. E. BARBER ADJUSTABLE WRENCH HAVING PLIER-LIKE HANDLES Filed Aug. 21, 1945 IINVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE WRENCH HAVING PLIER-LIKE HANDLES Hiram E. Barber, Crete, Nebr.

Application August 21, 1945, Serial No. 611,814

2 Claims. 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hand tools and is particularly directed to a hand tool combining the features of a pair of pliers and those of a wrench.

It has been the object of the. present invention A actuated mechanism for moving the movable jaw,

which mechanism holds the jaw firmly in clamping position.

These objects have been accomplished in a device which includes a stationary jaw element having a stationary gripping handle, this element constituting the body of the device. A movable jaw is mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the first element and for swinging movement through cam mechanism operated by means of a gripping handle. The handles are of the same general shape as those of the conventional pliers and are related and actuated in somewhat the same manner. The tool is easily adjusted to the approximate work size and thereafter cam actuated into gripping position.

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the combination pliers and wrench showing the pivotal handle in gripping position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device showing the side opposite to Figure l and the handle in position with the jaws open.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 2, illustrating the adjustment means for initially spacing the jaws.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 1, showing the eccentric means for moving the jaw to clamping or gripping position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 1, showing the pivotal mounting for the movable jaw.

The major elements of the device consist of a body I0, a movable jaw l l, and an operating element [2. The body includes a jaw portion 13, a handle member l4 and an intermediate portion l5 which provides the mounting for the movable law.

The gripping surfaces I6 of the jaws are knurled and are angularly disposed for ease of application to the work. The movable jaw I I lies 66 rotation of the knurled nut 26 to a position against the side of the body portion 15 within a recessed or cut away portion l'l thereof. Likewise the movable jaw is cut away so as to overlie the body (Figure 1). Thus, the respective outer side faces of the bod element It and the movable jaw are flush and the actual jaw portion of the movable jaw element is as wide as'that of the body element.

The movable jaw H is adjustably and operatively mounted on the body element 10 by means of bolts I8 traversing the movable jaw and slots 19 in the body. There are two of these longitudinal slots i9 and they are disposed in alignment along the body. The body element is thickened at the slots (Figure 1) so as to strengthen the element around the openings.

Each of the bolts has upper and lower flattened portions disposed against the upper and lower surfaces of the slots so as to prevent rotation of the bolts. Each bolt is held in place by means of a nut 20.

The movable jaw element l l is adjusted longitudinally oi the body, the bolts moving along the slots, by means of an adjustment element 2|. This element is traversed by the rear bolt (Figure 4). It lies between the nut 20 and the side face of the body element and includes an angular extension 22 extended into the slot. This adjustment element is carried by a screw 23 fixed to the extension and passing rearwardly through a bore 24 in a boss portion 25 of the body element. A knurled nut 26 is engaged upon the screw within a slot 21 in the body between the boss 25 and the rear end of the rear slot.

Accordingly the movable jaw may be moved by wherein the spacing between the jaws is slightly greater than the thickness of the article to be grasped.

The clamping or gripping action is accomplished by means of the handle I2. This handle has a grip portion 28 companion to that of the body element. These grip portions are similar to the standard pliers handles and are gripped in the same manner.

The attached end of the handle I2 is circular and includes a cam portion 29 fitted into an eccentric opening 30 in the movable jaw II. The opening 30 is eccentric to the bolt and when the handle is in open or released position the cam and opening are disposed above the axis of the bolt (Figure 2). As the handle is swung into gripping position the center of the cam or eccentric openings swings downwardly carrying the rea end of the movable jaw downwardly. This swing or rocks the jaw on the axis of the forward bolt and the knurled gripping portion of the jaw toward that of the body element.

A stop lug 3| on the handle adjacent the cam serves to limit inward movement of the handle by engaging the upper edge of the movable jaw (Figures 1 and 3).

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A hand tool comprisingyan elongated element having a stationary jawportion at one end and a handle portion at its opposite end, said element having an elongated slot formed intermediate said jaw and handle portions, amovable jaw element, a pivot element secured to said movable jaw element and engaged in said slot, said movable jaw having a lever extending rearwardly toward said handle portion from saidpivotz-element, an actuating handle for said movable jaw,

said handle pivotally mounted on said elongated element and including acam engaged in the rearward" end of said movable'jaw lever and adapted to rock said movable jaw onits pivot element relative to said stationary jaw.

' 2; A hand'tool comprising; an elongated element having a fixed jaw portion at one end and a 25 handleat the other end, said element having a longitudinal slot therein nearer said fixed jaw than said handle, a movable jaw pivotally journalled in said slot, said movable jaw having a lever portion extending toward said handle, said element having a second longitudinal slot therein nearer said handle than said fixed jaw, a second handle pivotally journalled in said second slot, a cam carried by said second handle, said cam being operating engagement with .said lever whereby swinging motion'of said second handle rocks said movable jaw, and means for adjusting the movable jaw longitudinally of said element.

' HIRAM E. BARBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatentz' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name' Date 338,326 Wi1s0n. Mar. 23, 1886 611,499 .Metcalfe Sept. 27,1898 722,012 Gunther Mar. 3, 1903 766,458 .Mills Aug. 2, 1904 806,815 Klemrn Dec. 12, 1905 Monzroll Nov. 24, 1931 

